Every day is a schoolday! In honour of LGBT History Month, I'm going to read up about a significant person in LGBT+ history, and post about them on this thread. Events like #LGBTHM21 are an opportunity for us all to learn and expand our knowledge base!

1: Radclyffe Hall was a writer and trailblazing lesbian in early 20th C English society. Her 'The Well of Loneliness' is second only to Lady Chatterley in controversial 1920s novels. She openly lived with partner Lady Una (below) & challenged norms by wearing 'men's' clothing.

'The Well of Loneliness' was banned in 1928 as 'obscene', despite it being fairly chaste - the issue was that it depicted lesbians overtly and in a sympathetic manner. Get a grip, 1920s censors! It's now regarded as a classic. #LGBTHM21

As well as being a superb writer of various genres including comedy and poetry, Hall maintained a strong Catholic faith, successfully managing to square her religion with her sexuality. She also loved dogs - here she is at Crufts with her dachshunds! #LGBTHM21

2. Alan Turing. An utter genius who basically created modern computing, known as the father of artificial intelligence, he lived at the right time for his brilliance to help end the war, but at the wrong time to live his truth as a gay man. #LGBTHM21

In 1952 Turing went from victim to criminal; while reporting a burglary to police he acknowledged his male partner, and he ended up prosecuted for 'Gross Indecency'. Rather than prison he chose chemical castration (!). It took until 2013 for his 'crime' to be pardoned. #LGBTHM21

Turing was never the same and took his own life in 1954, just nine years after his key role helping the Allies win WW2. He was 41. Now celebrated as a trailblazer of science, computing, mathematics as well as an LGBT icon, he'll soon be seen on the £50 note. #LGBTHM21

3. Sticking with the sciences, here's George Washington Carver. Born into slavery in 1860s Missouri, he was ill as a child and wasn't expected to live past 21. Instead he grew up to revolutionise US agriculture, was known as 'the Black Leonardo' and died aged 78. #LGBTHM21

In 1891 George was the first black student at Iowa State University and gained a Masters in botany and agriculture. He put forward his ideas on how to revitalise land which had been over-farmed for cotton - making crops like sweet potato and peanuts hugely popular. #LGBTHM21

George was a dedicated educator, and got investment to fund a mobile classroom to take to rural farmers. To help ensure crops sold well, he devised and published numerous recipes for peanut-based foods, including peanut butter! #LGBTHM21